12 Best Kwanzaa Gifts for Kids That Celebrate Tradition

Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba is the true story of Queen Njinga, a woman who survived and thrived through a tumultuous childhood to become the queen of two nations.

Queen Njinga was a political juggernaut of Angola in the 1600s, and this beautifully told, stunningly illustrated book does her history the utmost justice.

Books are a huge part of Kwanzaa gifts for kids, and this book is simply divine. It contains 22 beautifully told stories from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. These are stories that have been transcrbed and translated through the early twentieth century by anthropologists, folklorists, and literary scholars.

Okubo makes them come alive in language and illustrations that will capture kids' imaginations and hearts.

More: Kwanzaa Books for Kids

Family celebrations can be kind of dull for little kids. Playing games really does help get things interesting for them. This bingo set comes with perforated marker sheets and 18 bingo cards that are each labeled with words specific to Kwanzaa. You can play over and over again every year.

Forty-nine beautifully illustrated pages await your child in this coloring book. The Kinara, candles, and loads of other Kwanzaa imagery are ready for your little one to fill in. The paper is reasonably thick, so markers, crayons, and colored pencils are not a problem. Let your child's inner artist shine as bright as the holiday itself.

Your toddler will feel like a gorgeous queen in this butterfly headband in a West African Ankara print. The band itself is super stretchy, so it won't hug too tightly, making it comfortable and cute.

It's soft and luxurious, and you can choose from several fabrics. Buying all three would make quite an impressive gift for your child or another child close to you.

It feels as though there isn’t a gifting opportunity where there aren’t special socks dedicated to it. It actually pretty cool. Or, pretty warm as the case may be. These socks are designed for kids’ smaller feet, with strong stitching at the toes. They can handle the laundering they’ll require and come back for more.

Creative gifts are a huge part of Kwanzaa. You can give this gift to the children to make themselves, or you can make bath bombs for your kids. It comes with everything you need to make soothing lavender bath bombs. Kids and adults love their relaxing qualities, so they will definitely get used!

What's more creatively delicious than cookies? These handmade cookies feature Kwanza designs and colors.

Reviewers note that the cookies are buttery, crumbly goodness and that the royal icing isn't too sweet. They are a balance of sugar, vanilla, and butter that you will undoubtedly find irresistible. Maybe, if you're really nice, your children will share them with you.

The joy in Alphabet of Black Cultures is truly something to be experienced. It's a wonderful expression of Blackness, written in a text that will appeal to all ages. The illustrations in this book are drawn with exquisite detail.

This is a book your child will pull off the shelf to read again and again.

The histories of pre-colonial Africa are highlighted throughout 10 icons of the continent in this informative read. Immensely powerful and utterly necessary, African Icons tells the tale of mighty and courageous Africans in a way that children and adults alike will find enthralling.

You've rarely seen a doll as beautifully crafted and lovingly made as this one. This handmade African heritage doll is something your baby or child will cherish for the rest of their lives since they'll be able to take it from their nursery to their dorm room.

Ifeoma Onyefulu takes the traditional alphabet book and employs it to teach babies about Africa with gorgeous pictures and simple, kid-friendly prose. Your little one will be reciting their ABCs in no time!

Bogolon trousers are the best sorts of pants for kids. They allow completely free movement, as well as room for layering on cold days. Available in sizes 0-3 months through 5 years, these pants will quickly become the favored bottoms in your baby's wardrobe.

Idia was a queen like no other. The Benin Kingdom of the 15th century found great success under her rule, and she played a huge role in her son's rise to power.

Aire makes the whole story light up, telling it with nearly lyrical prose. Plus, the illustrations are positively illuminating.

The Benin Kingdom is located where modern-day Nigeria is today, and Yoruba is one of the major languages of the region. These fun flash cards teach your littles the basics of the Yoruba language through charmingly illustrated cards.

The first thing you need to know and love about this book is that famed author and illustrator, Baba Wagué Diakité, wrote it with his 12-year-old daughter Penda.

The story is about a girl who just wants to lose her tooth while traveling with her family to Mali, West Africa. She just can't quite get it to budge, and obviously, hijinks ensue.